Best of Boston

BEST Diner

A great diner isn’t built on food alone. Atmosphere counts, and this diner car has it in spades. There’s a black-and-white checkered floor and a crowded lunch counter, not to mention an unusual collection of 1980s memorabilia and a retro-pop… read more»

There’s plenty of old-school fun at this retrofitted dining car: a soundtrack straight out of the ’80s (cue “I Wanna Dance with Somebody”-era Whitney), tons of vintage bric-a-brac, and a section of the menu devoted to club sandwiches (dubbed “Size… read more»

After enduring Whitey’s old neighborhood badly rendered in countless movies and reality shows over the years, it’s comforting to find a place that is perfectly, authentically, and effortlessly Southie. This describes the Galley Diner, with its 12-stool counter and four… read more»

Despite a brief brush with fame following a 2011 appearance on Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations, Southie’s tiny Galley Diner remains a charmingly low-key spot for a good meal any time of day. The corned-beef-hash-and-cheese omelet (the “Southie”) is a favorite,… read more»

For greasy-good grub at 2, 3—even 4—in the morning, head to Andrew Square and order the “Deconstructed” at Victoria’s: two eggs with two pancakes or French toast, plus bacon, ham, and sausage, all for less than $15. Just be sure… read more»

From eggs, home fries, and pancakes to the turkey club piled with crispy bacon, the 24-hour South Street Diner nails the classics, then ups the ante with plates like chocolatey French toast and fried pickles (not together, thankfully). With Nitzer… read more»

Fanatical loyalty to one’s local diner isn’t based on food alone: It’s the atmosphere, stupid. At the Deluxe, which cooks up solid fare with a twist (e.g., sweet-potato pancakes), we’re completely won over by the charming bedlam of the place,… read more»

This old-school diner a short stroll from Davis Square features solid renditions of the usual short-order, comfort-food staples—meatloaf burgers, club sandwiches, and the like—and a nicely stocked bar offering comforting beverages. The service, while not fancy, is friendly—so much so… read more»

There’s a difference between authentic and retro, and this no-nonsense Somerville treasure falls squarely in the former category. It has everything you come to a diner for—a 1953 Jerry O’Mahoney railway car with spacious booths and tabletop jukeboxes, serviceable food… read more»

Escape the school groups screaming outside the Witch Museum and hit the Salem Diner, a former classic one-ended streamliner train car. With its quintessential counters and stools, The Salem starts the day at 5 a.m. with artery-clogging greasy spoon staples…. read more»